Method and apparatus for selecting multiple transport formats and transmitting multiple transport blocks simultaneously with multiple h-arq processes

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for selecting multiple transport formats and transmitting multiple transport blocks (TBs) in a transmission time interval simultaneously with multiple hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in a wireless communication system are disclosed. Available physical resources and H-ARQ processes associated with the available physical resources are identified and channel quality of each of the available physical resources is determined. Quality of service (QoS) requirements of higher layer data to be transmitted are determined. The higher layer data is mapped to at least two H-ARQ processes. Physical transmission and H-ARQ configurations to support QoS requirements of the higher layer data mapped to each H-ARQ process are determined. TBs are generated from the mapped higher layer data in accordance with the physical transmission and H-ARQ configurations of each H-ARQ process, respectively. The TBs are transmitted via the H-ARQ processes simultaneously.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.60/754,714 filed Dec. 29, 2005 and Ser. No. 60/839,845 filed Aug. 24,2006, which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is related to wireless communication systems. Moreparticularly, the present invention is related to a method and apparatusfor selecting multiple transport formats and transmitting multipletransport blocks (TBs) in a transmission time interval (TTI)simultaneously with multiple hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ)processes in a wireless communication system.

BACKGROUND

The objective of evolved high speed packet access (HSPA+) and long termevolution (LTE) of universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA) anduniversal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) is to develop a radioaccess network for high data rate, low latency, packet optimization, andimproved system capacity and coverage. In order to achieve these goals,an evolution of a radio interface and radio network architecture arebeing considered. In HSPA+, the air interface technology will still bebased on code division multiple access (CDMA) but with more efficientphysical layer architecture which may include independent channelizationcodes, (distinguished with regard to channel quality), andmultiple-input multiple-output (MIMO). In LTE, orthogonal frequencydivision multiple access (OFDMA) and frequency division multiple access(FDMA) are proposed as the air interface technologies to be used in thedownlink and the uplink, respectively.

H-ARQ has been adopted by several wireless communication standards,including third generation partnership project (3GPP) and 3GPP2. Besidesradio link control (RLC) layer automatic repeat request (ARQ) function,H-ARQ improves throughput, compensates for link adaptation errors andprovides efficient transmission rates through the channel. The delaycaused by H-ARQ feedback, (i.e., a positive acknowledgement (ACK) or anegative acknowledgement (NACK)), is significantly reduced by placingthe H-ARQ functionality in a Node-B rather than in a radio networkcontroller (RNC). A user equipment (UE) receiver may combine soft bitsof the original transmission with soft bits of subsequentretransmissions to achieve higher block error rate (BLER) performance.Chase combining or incremental redundancy may be implemented.

Asynchronous H-ARQ is used in high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA)and synchronous H-ARQ is used in high speed uplink packet access(HSUPA). In both HSDPA and HSUPA, radio resources allocated for thetransmission are the number of codes at a certain frequency band basedon one channel quality indication (CQI) feedback. There is nodifferentiation among channelization codes. Therefore, one HSDPA mediumaccess control (MAC-hs) flow or one HSUPA medium access control(MAC-e/es) flow multiplexed from multiple dedicated channel MAC (MAC-d)flows is assigned to one H-ARQ process and one cyclic redundancy check(CRC) is attached to one transport block.

A new physical layer attribute introduced in HSPA+ includes MIMO anddifferent channelization codes. New physical layer attributes introducedin LTE include MIMO and different subcarriers, (localized ordistributed). With introduction of these new physical layer attributes,the performance of conventional single H-ARQ scheme and transport formatcombination (TFC) selection procedure should be changed. In aconventional single H-ARQ scheme, only one H-ARQ process is active at atime and a TFC of only one transport data block needs to be determinedin each TTI. The conventional TFC selection procedure does not have theability to make TFC selection for more than one data block for multipleH-ARQ processes.

SUMMARY

The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for selectingmultiple transport formats and transmitting multiple TBs in a TTIsimultaneously with multiple H-ARQ processes in a wireless communicationsystem. Available physical resources and the channel quality of each ofthe available physical resources are determined, and the H-ARQ processesassociated with the available physical resources are identified. Qualityof service (QoS) requirements of higher layer data flow(s) to betransmitted are determined. The higher layer data flow(s) is mapped toat least two H-ARQ processes. Physical transmission parameters and H-ARQconfigurations to support QoS requirements of the higher layer dataflow(s) mapped to each H-ARQ process are determined. TBs are generatedfrom the mapped higher layer data flow(s) in accordance with thephysical transmission parameters and H-ARQ configurations of each H-ARQprocess, respectively. The TBs are transmitted via the H-ARQ processessimultaneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed understanding of the invention may be had from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of exampleand to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus configured in accordance withthe present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a process for transmitting multiple TBs in aTTI simultaneously with multiple H-ARQ processes in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

When referred to hereafter, the terminology “wireless transmit/receiveunit” (WTRU) includes but is not limited to a user equipment (UE), amobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, a cellulartelephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computer, or any othertype of user device capable of operating in a wireless environment. Whenreferred to hereafter, the terminology “base station” includes but isnot limited to a Node-B, an evolved Node-B (eNB), a site controller, anaccess point (AP), or any other type of interfacing device capable ofoperating in a wireless environment.

The present invention is applicable to any wireless communication systemincluding, but not limited to, wideband code division multiple access(WCDMA), CDMA2000, HSPA+, LTE of 3GPP systems, OFDM, MIMO or OFDM/MIMO.

The features of the present invention may be incorporated into anintegrated circuit (IC) or be configured in a circuit comprising amultitude of interconnecting components.

Different antenna spatial beams or channelization codes may experience adifferent channel quality, which may be indicated by CQI feedback. Thesame adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) may be applied to all thesubcarriers, spatial beams or channelization codes which are independentof the quality of the subcarriers, spatial beams and channelizationcodes. Alternatively, the channel condition may be used to applydifferent AMC to different subcarriers, spatial beams or channelizationcodes in order to maximize the performance.

When subcarrier, spatial beam or channelization code-dependent AMC isused, each data block that is assigned to each subcarrier, spatial beamor channelization code is associated with one CRC in accordance with thepresent invention. Otherwise, upon transmission error, the entire packetdistributed to different subcarriers, spatial beams or channelizationcodes need to be retransmitted because the whole packet is associatedwith a single CRC. Retransmitting every data block that has already beencorrectly received will waste the valuable radio resources. The samesituation applies when MIMO is used because each antenna may be subjectto different channel conditions. Thus, when multi-dimensional H-ARQprocesses are used with each H-ARQ process corresponding to one or moresubcarriers, channelization codes, transmit antennas (or spatial beams),a separate CRC is attached to each transport data block in accordancewith the present invention. In a conventional single H-ARQ scheme, onlyone H-ARQ process is active at a time and a TFC of only one transportdata block needs to be determined in each TTI. The conventional TFCselection procedure does not have the ability to make TFC selection formore than one data block for multiple H-ARQ processes to properlysupport QoS requirements of higher layer data flows.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus 100 for transmitting multipletransport blocks (TBs) simultaneously in a transmission time interval(TTI) with multiple H-ARQ processes in accordance with the presentinvention. The apparatus 100 may be a WTRU, a Node-B, or any othercommunication device. The apparatus 100 includes a plurality of H-ARQprocesses 102 a-102 n, a plurality of multiplexing and link adaptationprocessors 104 a-104 n and a controller 106. Each multiplexing and linkadaptation processor 104 a-104 n is associated with one H-ARQ process102 a-102 n. Each multiplexing and link adaptation processor 104 a-104 nreceives physical resource configuration, (i.e., sub-carriersdistributed or localized, MIMO antenna configurations, or the like), andCQIs associated with these physical resources.

Each available H-ARQ process 102 a-102 n is associated with a specificset of physical resources. The association of physical resources to theH-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n may be determined dynamically, or theassociation may be semi-statically configured. A network entity, (e.g.,an eNB scheduler), determines how many physical resources should beassigned. Physical resources associated with a particular H-ARQ processmay be dynamically reassigned each time a TFC is selected by themultiplexing and link adaptation processor 104 a-104 n or each time theH-ARQ processor 102 a-102 n generates an H-ARQ retransmission for aparticular TB. The reassignment of physical resources may be performedbased on the CQI of particular physical resources or determined based ona predefined hopping pattern.

The multiplexing and link adaptation processors 104 a-104 n perform linkadaptation independently for each set of physical resources andassociated H-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n. Each multiplexing and linkadaptation processor 104 a-104 n determines a modulation and codingscheme (MCS), a multiplexed TB, transmit power requirement, an H-ARQredundancy version and maximum number of retransmissions each TTI. Thisset of transmission information is provided to each H-ARQ process 102a-102 n.

The physical resources may be defined by independent spatial streams (ifMIMO is implemented) in the space domain, independent subcarriers (ifOFDMA or FDMA is implemented) in the frequency domain, independentchannelization codes (if CDMA is implemented) in the code domain,independent timeslots in the time domain, or any combination thereof.The independent subcarriers may be distributed or localized. Thechannelization codes are physical resources that can be assigned todifferent TBs independently. In CDMA systems, different channelizationcodes may be assigned to transmit one TB, or several TBs based on thechannel condition and data rate requirement for each TB. The maximumnumber of TBs that can be transmitted is less or equal to the maximumnumber of channelization codes available. When several independentspatial streams, subcarriers or channelization codes are available,several TBs may be transmitted simultaneously via different physicalresources with several H-ARQ processes. For example, if two spatialstreams are available in a 2×2 MIMO system, two TBs may be transmittedsimultaneously via two spatial streams with two independent H-ARQprocesses.

Different physical resources, (i.e., different subcarriers, antennaspatial beams, channelization codes or timeslots), may experiencedifferent channel quality. The quality of each physical resource isdetermined by one or more CQI measurements. The CQI may be fed back froma communication peer or may be obtained based on channel reciprocity.The CQI may also be represented by an allowed MCS and/or maximumtransport block size.

The controller 106 identifies available physical resources and H-ARQprocesses associated with the available physical resources. Since eachH-ARQ process 102 a-102 n is associated with a particular physicalresource, when available physical resources are identified, availableH-ARQ processes are also identified. The available physical resourcesand associated H-ARQ processes may be determined at the start of acommon TTI boundary. The association may also be semi-staticallyconfigured over a period of multiple TTIs.

The available physical resources are the number of independent spatialstreams, subcarriers, channelization codes and timeslots that can beused for data transmission within a certain period. The availablephysical resources for one WTRU are dependent on many factors such asnumber of WTRUs that a Node-B needs to support in one cell, theinterference level from other cells, the channel condition of the WTRU,the QoS levels (such as priorities, latency, fairness and buffer status)of the services the WTRU needs to support, the data rates one WTRU needsto support, or the like.

In accordance with the present invention, multiple H-ARQ processes 102a-102 n operate simultaneously and in parallel. Since H-ARQ processes102 a-102 n may take a different number of retransmissions forsuccessful transmission and since the data flows mapped to the H-ARQprocesses 102 a-102 n may have QoS requirements that determine adifferent maximum number of retransmissions or different TTI sizes, acertain H-ARQ may not be available if H-ARQ processes are notsynchronized with each other. Any number of H-ARQ processes may becomeavailable in any TTI. In accordance with the present invention, morethan one H-ARQ process and associated set of physical resources becomeavailable in a common TTI. The association between H-ARQ processes andphysical resources is coordinated by the controller 106.

The controller 106 maps higher layer data flows 108 a-108 m, (i.e.,multiple flows of MAC or RLC protocol data units (PDUs)), to at leasttwo multiplexing and link adaptation processors 104 a-104 n and theirassociated H-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n. The same higher layer data flow108 a-108 m may be mapped to more than one multiplexing and linkadaptation processor 104 a-104 n and H-ARQ process 102 a-102 n in acommon TTI for QoS normalization. By mapping the same higher layer dataflow or set of higher layer data flows to multiple H-ARQ processes, QoSrequirement across the H-ARQ process 102 a-102 n is common. In thiscase, each multiplexing and link adaptation processor 104 a-104 ndetermines an MCS, a transport block size, a transmit power, maximumH-ARQ transmissions and transmission parameters in accordance with theCQIs of the set of associated physical resources so that the QoSachieved for each transmission of the higher layer data flow or set ofdata flows is as similar as possible.

Alternatively, unequal error protection may also be achieved by mappingthe higher layer data flows 108 a-108 m, that may be grouped inaccordance with QoS requirements to different H-ARQ processes 102 a-102n based on the data flow QoS requirements and CQIs associated with theset of physical resources assigned to each H-ARQ process. For example,CQIs may show that one set of physical resources is better than othersets of physical resources. A higher layer data flow with higher QoSrequirements may be mapped to an H-ARQ process associated with betterphysical resources. The number of higher layer data flows that will bemapped to a specific H-ARQ process is determined based on the QoSrequirements of the higher layer data flows, packet size, H-ARQcapacity, or the like. Once the respective higher layer data flows to betransmitted using specific H-ARQ processes are decided, those data flowsare multiplexed through the multiplexing and link adaptation processors104 a-104 n for different H-ARQ processes.

Each multiplexing and link adaptation processor 104 a-104 n receives aninput, (such as, CQIs of the assigned physical resources, bufferoccupancy of the mapped data flows, or the like), and determinesphysical transmission parameters and H-ARQ configurations to support QoSrequirements of the higher layer data flows 108 a-108 m mapped to eachH-ARQ process. The physical transmission parameters include atransmission power, a modulation and coding scheme, a TTI size, atransport block size and a beamforming pattern, the subcarrierallocation, MIMO antenna configuration or the like. The H-ARQconfiguration parameters include an H-ARQ identity, a maximum number ofretransmissions, a redundancy version (RV), a CRC size, or the like. Themultiplexing and link adaptation processor 104 a-104 n provides theH-ARQ parameters to the associated H-ARQ process 102 a-102 n.

The multiplexing and link adaptation processor 104 a-104 n may apply thesame MCS, transport block size, TTI size and/or transmit power to allphysical resources which are independent of the quality of the physicalresources. Alternatively, the multiplexing and link adaptation processor104 a-104 n may apply different MCS, transport block size, TTI sizeand/or transmit power to different physical resources based on channelcondition in order to maximize the performance.

When physical resource-dependent AMC and H-ARQ operation is used, eachdata block that is assigned to each physical resource is preferablyassociated with a separate CRC. With this scheme, the entire packetdistributed to different physical resources does not need to beretransmitted upon a transmission error because each transport block isassociated with a separate CRC and is processed by a separate H-ARQprocess 102 a-102 n.

The multiplexing and link adaptation processors 104 a-104 n thengenerate TBs from the assigned higher layer data flows 112 a-112 m afterselecting a proper TFC, (i.e., TB size, TB set size, TTI size,modulation and coding scheme (MCS), transmission power, antenna beams,the subcarrier allocation, CRC size, redundancy version (RV) and datablock to radio resource mapping, or the like), for the TB based onchannel quality indicators and the physical transmission parameters. Oneor more higher layer data flows may be multiplexed into one TB. Aseparate CRC is attached to each of the TBs for separate error detectionand H-ARQ processing. Each TB and associated transmission parameters areprovided to the assigned H-ARQ process 102 a-102 n. The TBs are thentransmitted via the assigned H-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n, respectively.

The parameters supporting multiple H-ARQ processes may be signaled to areceiving peer before transmission or a blind detection technique may beused at the receiving peer to decode the transmission parameters. Thegenerated TBs along with the associated transmission parameters are sentto the H-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n for transmission.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a process 200 for transmitting multiple TBsin a TTI simultaneously with multiple H-ARQ processes in accordance withthe present invention. Available physical resources and their channelquality associated with each H-ARQ process 102 a-102 n are identified(step 202). QoS requirements and buffer occupancy of higher layer dataflow 112 a-112 m to be transmitted are determined (step 204). It shouldbe noted that the steps in the process 200 may be performed in differentorder and some steps may be performed in parallel. For example, the step204 may be applied before the step 202, or simultaneously.

The controller 106 may determine the type of higher layer data flows 112a-112 m for TFC selection processing based on QoS parameters associatedwith those higher layer data flows. The controller 106 may alsodetermine the order in which the higher layer data flows are serviced.The order of processing may be determined by QoS requirements orabsolute priority. Alternatively, a life span time parameter may be usedin determining the duration that the higher layer data packets may stayin an H-ARQ queue so that the controller 106 may prioritize or discardhigher layer data packets based on the life span time parameter.

The higher layer data flows 112 a-112 are mapped to the respective H-ARQprocesses 102 a-102 n by the controller 106. Physical transmissionparameters and H-ARQ configurations are determined for each of theavailable H-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n to support the required QoS of thehigher layer data flows 112 a-1 12 m mapped to each of the H-ARQprocesses 102 a-102 n (step 206). When more than one H-ARQ process isavailable for transmission in a TTI, it is necessary to determine whichhigher layer data flows 112 a-112 m should be mapped to different H-ARQprocesses. The higher layer data flows 112 a-112 m may or may not havesimilar QoS requirements.

When all or a subset of higher layer data flows 112 a-112 m to be mappedto different HARQ processes require similar QoS, then the QoS providedby the H-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n is normalized, (i.e., transmissionparameters, (such as, MCS, TB size and transmission power), and H-ARQconfigurations are adjusted each TTI a TFC is selected such that the QoSprovided across the H-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n is similar). The QoSnormalization across multiple H-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n may berealized by adjusting the link adaptation parameters (e.g., MCS, TBsize, transmission power, or the like) across the H-ARQ processes 102a-102 n. For example, a higher MCS may be assigned to the physicalresources that have better channel quality and a lower MCS may beassigned to the physical resources that have worse channel quality. Thismay result in different sizes of the multiplexed data block fordifferent H-ARQ processes.

Alternatively, when the higher layer data flows 112 a-112 m requiredifferent QoSs, the higher layer data flows 112 a-112 m may be mapped toH-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n associated with physical resources withquality that closely matches the QoS requirements of the higher layerdata flows 112 a-112 m. An advantage of using multiple H-ARQ processesis its flexibility to multiplex logical channels or MAC flows withdifferent QoS requirements to different H-ARQ processes 102 a-102 n andassociated physical resources. When a certain physical resourceindicates a better channel quality than others, data with a higher QoSis mapped to the H-ARQ process associated with that physical resource.This enhances physical resource utilization and maximizes systemthroughput. Alternatively, or additionally, an MCS and/or the maximumnumber of retransmissions may be configured to differentiate the QoS tomore closely match the logical channel or MAC flow's QoS requirements.

After the higher layer data flows 112 a-112 m are mapped to the H-ARQprocesses 102 a-102 n, a TB for each H-ARQ process 102 a-102 n isgenerated in accordance with the physical transmission parameters andH-ARQ configurations for each H-ARQ process 102 a-102 n, respectively,by multiplexing the higher layer data flows 112 a-112 m associated witheach H-ARQ process 102 a-102 n (step 208). Data multiplexing for eachH-ARQ process 102 a-102 n may be processed sequentially or in parallel.The TBs are then transmitted simultaneously via the associated H-ARQprocesses 102 a-102 n (step 210).

The transmitted TBs may or may not be successfully received at thecommunication peer. A failed TB is retransmitted in a subsequent TTI.Preferably, the size of the retransmitted TB remains the same for softcombing at the communication peer. Several options are possible forretransmission of the failed TB.

In accordance with the first option, the physical resources allocatedfor H-ARQ retransmission of the TB remain unchanged, (i.e., the failedTB is retransmitted via the same physical resources and H-ARQ process.The transmission parameters and H-ARQ configurations, (i.e., a TFC), maybe changed. Specifically, the link adaptation parameters, (such asantenna selection, AMC or transmit power), may be changed to maximizethe chance of successful delivery of the retransmitted TB. When the linkadaptation parameters are changed for retransmission of the failed TB,the changed parameters may be signaled to the receiving peer.Alternatively, a blind detection technique may be applied at thereceiving peer to eliminate the signaling overhead for changedparameters.

In accordance with the second option, physical resources allocated forH-ARQ retransmission of the transport block may be dynamicallyreassigned, (i.e., the failed TB is retransmitted on different physicalresources and the same H-ARQ process). The reassignment of physicalresources may be based on CQI or based on a known hopping pattern.

In another option, a failed H-ARQ transmission may be fragmented acrossmultiple H-ARQ processes and each fragment transmitted independently toincrease the probability of successful H-ARQ transmission. In accordancewith this option, the physical resources for the retransmitted TB arenewly allocated, (i.e., the failed TB is transmitted via a differentH-ARQ process). The H-ARQ process used to transmit the failed TB in theprevious TTI becomes available for transmission of any other TB in thesubsequent TTI. The maximum transmit power, the number of subcarriers orchannelization codes, the number or allocation of antennas andrecommended MCS may be re-allocated for retransmission of the failed TB.Preferably, a new allowed TFCS subset may be generated to reflect thephysical resource change for the failed TB. The new parameters may besignaled to the receiving peer to guarantee successful reception.Alternatively, a blind detection technique may be applied at thereceiving peer to eliminate the signaling overhead for changedparameters.

Although the features and elements of the present invention aredescribed in the preferred embodiments in particular combinations, eachfeature or element can be used alone without the other features andelements of the preferred embodiments or in various combinations with orwithout other features and elements of the present invention. Themethods or flow charts provided in the present invention may beimplemented in a computer program, software, or firmware tangiblyembodied in a computer-readable storage medium for execution by ageneral purpose computer or a processor. Examples of computer-readablestorage mediums include a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory(RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magneticmedia such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-opticalmedia, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks, and digital versatiledisks (DVDs).

Suitable processors include, by way of example, a general purposeprocessor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, adigital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, amicrocontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) circuits, any other type of integratedcircuit (IC), and/or a state machine.

A processor in association with software may be used to implement aradio frequency transceiver for use in a wireless transmit receive unit(WTRU), user equipment (UE), terminal, base station, radio networkcontroller (RNC), or any host computer. The WTRU may be used inconjunction with modules, implemented in hardware and/or software, suchas a camera, a video camera module, a videophone, a speakerphone, avibration device, a speaker, a microphone, a television transceiver, ahands free headset, a keyboard, a Bluetooth® module, a frequencymodulated (FM) radio unit, a liquid crystal display (LCD) display unit,an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit, a digital musicplayer, a media player, a video game player module, an Internet browser,and/or any wireless local area network (WLAN) module.

1. A method for transmitting multiple transport blocks (TBs) in atransmission time interval (TTI) with multiple hybrid automatic repeatrequest (H-ARQ) processes in a wireless communication system, the methodcomprising: identifying available physical resources and associatedH-ARQ processes; obtaining channel quality measurement of each of theavailable physical resources; mapping at least one higher layer dataflow to at least two H-ARQ processes; determining physical transmissionparameters and H-ARQ configurations to support QoS requirements of thehigher layer data flow mapped to each H-ARQ process; generatingtransport blocks (TBs) from the mapped higher layer data flow inaccordance with the physical transmission parameters and H-ARQconfigurations of each H-ARQ process, respectively; and transmitting theTBs via the H-ARQ processes simultaneously.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein the physical transmission parameters and H-ARQ configurationsinclude a transport format combination (TFC) for each TB.
 3. The methodof claim 1 wherein the communication nodes include multiple antennas formultiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and the available physicalresources are identified based on independent spatial data streams. 4.The method of claim 1 wherein the available physical resources areidentified based on independent frequency subcarriers.
 5. The method ofclaim 4 wherein the subcarriers are distributed subcarriers.
 6. Themethod of claim 4 wherein the subcarriers are localized subcarriers. 7.The method of claim 1 wherein the available physical resources areidentified based on independent channelization codes.
 8. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the available physical resources are identified based ondifferent time slots.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the associationof the physical resources and the H-ARQ processes is dynamicallydetermined.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the association of thephysical resources and the H-ARQ processes is semi-staticallyconfigured.
 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising: selectinghigher layer data flows to be transmitted in a next TTI, whereby onlythe selected higher layer data flows are mapped to the H-ARQ processes.12. The method of claim 11 wherein a packet on each higher layer dataflow is assigned a life span time, whereby the selection of a packet fortransmission is made based on the life span time.
 13. The method ofclaim 1 wherein when QoS requirements of the higher layer data flows aresimilar, the physical transmission and H-ARQ configurations aredetermined such that QoS across the available H-ARQ processes issimilar.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein a higher order modulationand coding scheme (MCS) is applied to an H-ARQ process with a higherchannel quality and a lower order MCS is applied to an H-ARQ processwith a lower channel quality.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein thenumber of maximum retransmissions is assigned to each H-ARQ processbased on the QoS requirement of a higher layer data flow mapped to theH-ARQ process.
 16. The method of claim 1 wherein when QoS requirementsof the higher layer data flows are not similar, each of the higher layerdata flows is mapped to an H-ARQ process associated with channel qualitythat closely matches to a QoS requirement of the higher layer data flow.17. The method of claim 1 wherein when QoS requirements of the higherlayer data flows are not similar, a maximum number of retransmissions isassigned to an H-ARQ process based on the QoS requirement of a higherlayer data flow mapped to the H-ARQ process.
 18. The method of claim 1wherein physical resources mapped to the H-ARQ process are unchanged forretransmission of a TB when transmission of the TB fails.
 19. The methodof claim 18 wherein physical transmission and H-ARQ configurations arechanged for retransmission of the TB.
 20. The method of claim 18 whereinthe TB is fragmented for retransmission.
 21. The method of claim 1wherein physical resources mapped to the TB are changed forretransmission of the TB when transmission of the TB fails.
 22. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system is anevolved high speed packet access (HSPA+) system.
 23. The method of claim1 wherein the wireless communication system is a long term evolution(LTE) of a third generation (3G) wireless communication system.
 24. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the available physical resources andassociated H-ARQ processes are determined at the start of common TTIboundary.
 25. The method of claim 1 wherein the physical transmissionparameters include a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for each TB. 26.The method of claim 25 wherein an MCS for each TB is selected todifferentiate QoS requirements of the TBs.
 27. The method of claim 25wherein an MCS for each TB is selected such that the QoS supportedacross the H-ARQ processes is similar.
 28. The method of claim 1 whereinthe physical transmission parameters include a transport block size foreach TB.
 29. The method of claim 28 wherein a TB size for each TB isselected to differentiate QoS requirements of the TBs.
 30. The method ofclaim 28 where a TB size for each TB is selected such that the QoSsupported across the H-ARQ processes is similar.
 31. An apparatus fortransmitting multiple transport blocks (TBs) in a transmission timeinterval (TTI) simultaneously with multiple hybrid automatic repeatrequest (H-ARQ) processes in a wireless communication system, theapparatus comprising: a plurality of H-ARQ processes; a controllerconfigured to identify available physical resources and H-ARQ processesassociated with the available physical resources, map at least onehigher layer data flow to at least two H-ARQ processes based on channelquality of each of the available physical resources and quality ofservice (QoS) requirements of the higher layer data flows, and determinephysical transmission parameters and H-ARQ configurations to support QoSrequirements of the higher layer data flows mapped to each H-ARQprocess; and a plurality of multiplexing and link adaptation processors,each multiplexing and link adaptation processor being associated with anH-ARQ process and being configured to generate a TB from the higherlayer data flow mapped to the multiplexing and link adaptation processorin accordance with the physical transmission parameters and H-ARQconfigurations of each H-ARQ process.
 32. The apparatus of claim 31wherein each multiplexing and link adaptation process determines atransport format combination (TFC) for the higher layer data flowmapped.
 33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the controller identifiesthe available physical resources based on independent spatial datastreams generated by multiple antennas for multiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO).
 34. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein thecontroller identifies the available physical resources based onindependent subcarriers.
 35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein thesubcarriers are distributed subcarriers.
 36. The apparatus of claim 34wherein the subcarriers are localized subcarriers.
 37. The apparatus ofclaim 31 wherein the controller identifies the available physicalresources based on independent channelization codes.
 38. The apparatusof claim 31 wherein the available physical resources are identifiedbased on different time slots.
 39. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein theassociation of the physical resources and the H-ARQ processes isdynamically determined.
 40. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein theassociation of the physical resources and the H-ARQ processes isstatically configured.
 41. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein thecontroller is configured to select at least one higher layer data flowto be transmitted in a next TTI and map only the selected higher layerdata flow to the H-ARQ processes.
 42. The apparatus of claim 41 whereina packet on the higher layer data flow is assigned a life span time,whereby the controller selects a packet for transmission based on thelife span time.
 43. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein when QoSrequirements of the higher layer data flows are similar, the controllerdetermines the physical transmission and H-ARQ configurations tonormalize QoS across the available H-ARQ processes.
 44. The apparatus ofclaim 43 wherein the controller applies a higher order modulation andcoding scheme (MCS) to an H-ARQ process with a higher channel qualityand applies a lower order MCS to an H-ARQ process with a lower channelquality.
 45. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the controller assigns amaximum retransmission limit to each H-ARQ process based on the QoSrequirement of the higher layer data mapped to the H-ARQ process. 46.The apparatus of claim 31 wherein when QoS requirements of the higherlayer data are not similar, the controller maps the higher layer dataflows to an H-ARQ process associated with a channel quality that closelymatches to a QoS requirement of the higher layer data.
 47. The apparatusof claim 31 wherein when QoS requirements of the higher layer data arenot similar, the controller assigns a maximum retransmission limit to anH-ARQ process based on the QoS requirement of the higher layer datamapped to the H-ARQ process.
 48. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein thecontroller assigns the same physical resources for retransmission of aTB when transmission of the TB fails.
 49. The apparatus of claim 48wherein the controller changes physical transmission and H-ARQconfigurations for retransmission of the TB.
 50. The apparatus of claim48 wherein the controller fragments the TB for retransmission.
 51. Theapparatus of claim 31 wherein the controller changes physical resourcesfor retransmission of a TB when transmission of the TB fails.
 52. Theapparatus of claim 31 wherein the wireless communication system is anevolved high speed packet access (HSPA+) system.
 53. The apparatus ofclaim 31 wherein the wireless communication system is a long termevolution (LTE) of a third generation (3G) wireless communicationsystem.
 54. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the available physicalresources and associated H-ARQ processes are determined at the start ofcommon TTI boundary.
 55. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the physicaltransmission parameters include a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) foreach TB.
 56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein an MCS for each TB isselected to differentiate QoS requirements of the TBs.
 57. The apparatusof claim 55 wherein an MCS for each TB is selected such that the QoSsupported across the H-ARQ processes is similar.
 58. The apparatus ofclaim 31 wherein the physical transmission parameters include atransport block size for each TB.
 59. The apparatus of claim 58 whereina TB size for each TB is selected to differentiate QoS requirements ofthe TBs.
 60. The apparatus of claim 58 where a TB size for each TB isselected such that the QoS supported across the H-ARQ processes issimilar.